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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J; HOWARD & H W. GIBBS.

' PLOW. No. 314,678. Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSh1eet 2. J. HOWARD &- H. W. GIBBS.

PLOW. N0. 314,673. Patented Mar. 31, 18.85.

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J AMES HO\VARD AND I-IENLY NILLIAllI GIBBS, OF BEDFORD, COUNTY OFBEDFORD, ENGLAND.

LEPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent It 0. 31%,673, dated March31, 1885.

Application filed December-17, 1884. (No model.) Patented in Germany May29, 1884, and in Austria July 11, 1584, No. 19,421.

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we. JAMES HOWARD, of Bedford, in the county of Bedford,and HENRY WILLIAM GIBBs, also of Bedford, aforesaid, England,agricultural engineers, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Flows, of which the following is aspecilication.

This invention relates to that class of plows (whether single, double,or multi-furrow) which has a detachable fore carriage with two wheels onone aXle-tree, or a pair of axles attached to an axle-bed.

The object of the invention is to facilitate the operations of plowing.

In plows with detachable fore carriages in which the beam of the plow issupported on the fore carriage the angle which the wheels and axle formwith the ground-line varies according to the depth at which the plow isset to work; but it is important that the vertical position of thelandside of the plow should be maintained at all depths, and toaccomplish this various devices have been employed. To attain thisresult in a more simple and cffi cient manner than heretoforgwe adoptthe arrangements of plows shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1, Sheet I, is a side elevation of an arrangement of plow andfore carriage in general use in eastern Europe with our improvementsapplied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

In Sheet II, Fig. 3 is a front View of the fore carriage complete, andFigs. 4 and 5 represent the fore carriage in positions varying from thatof Fig. 3.

A is the plow-beam, to which is bolted the plow body or standard B, andfitted, as usual, to the plow-body are the sole-plate b, the share b,and the breast b.

O is the colter, attached to the beam in the usual manner. The beam ismade of rolled iron or steeLby preference of Isection, (see Fig. 1*,)and to its rear end is bolted the haudle A, of wrought-iron, which iscontinued down to the plow-body and made fast to it and to thesole-plate.

D is the fore carriage, carried by a pair of wheels which run freely ona fixed axle-tree,

d. This axle tree (Figs. 3, 4., and 5,) is bent to an arched orsegmental shape, for the purpose to be presently described. Mountedadjustably on this axle-tree isa sliding block or bracket-piece, d, forsupporting the forward end of the plow-beam. The radius of the are we socalculate that theaxletree d shall,while the plow is at work, maintainthe horizontal position of the sliding block or bracket-piece d,whatever its set position upon the axle-tree may be, for adapting theplow to work at dif- 6o ferent depths. By this means we are enabled tomaintain the vertical position of the landside of the plow.

In order to maintain a uniform width of furrow after the adjustment ofthe sliding block 6 or bracket-piece d, we fit the block with anadjusta-ble gage-plate, (i formed with lugs at its opposite ends,between which the forward end of the beam lies. This gage-plate servesto maintain the set distance between the beam 76 and the furrow-wheel,and thereby to prevent any variation in the Width of the furrows.

To the axle-tree is connected the usual draft-bar, I), with adjustablelever for setting the draft-hook to the right or left, and to thedraft-bar is connected the chain c, which passes below the axle-tree andthence to the beam A, to which it is attached. The draft of the cattlecauses the under side of the fore part of the beam (which is made with abroad flat surface) 80 to bear upon the sliding block or bracketpiece ofthe fore carriage. Thus while the draft-cattle are moving forward aconnection, more or less rigid, is maintained between the beam and forecarriage, but 011 the slacken- 5 ing of the draft at the end of thefurrow the rigid connection ceases, when the turning of the plow-beamupon the fore carriage as well as the turning of the plow for a freshfurrow is rendered easy. 9

The adjustable sliding block or bracketpiece (2 is shown in side and endviews at Fig.

6 and the gage-plate d in face view at Fig. 7. The bracket-piece is madeby preference of angle-iron, slotted or pierced with holes to receive apair of screwed staples, d, which are intended'to grip the axle-tree andhold the I tree is tipped in the opposite direction, the 0 bracket-piecein its set position. The screwed ends of these staples pass throughholes made in the gage-plate d, and, by means of nuts screwed on them,the gage-plate is held firmly to the adjusted bracket-piece. Thisgage-plate is pierced with a row of holes for the reception of thescrewed ends of the staples, and provision is thus made for its beingadjusted endwise or laterally of the carriage.

To allow of the beam rolling upon the bracketpiece when the plow is tobe thrown out of action, the lugs of the gage-plate are made at such adistance apart as will provide for a slight lateral play of the forwardend of the beam.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the bracket-piece is setin a central position, the depth of plowing required being such as maybe effected without tipping the axle-tree or fore carriage, the depthbeing due solely to the difference of diameter between the furrowwheeland the land-wheel.

Fig. 4shows the bracketpiece set for the production of a shallowerfurrow. Thus the bracket-piece is shifted nearer to the furrowwheel, andthe fore carriage is tipped and inclined toward the nnplowed land.

At Fig. 5 the fore carriage with its axlebracketpiece being shifted fromthe furrowwheel side to the land-wheel side of the carriage. Thus in allthree examples of position the adjustable bracket-piece will retain itshorizontality, and consequently the vertical position of the landside ofthe plow will be maintained Whatever depth of furrow is being plowed.

Having described the nature of our said invention, and in what mannerthe same is to be performed, we claim In a plow constructed with a forecarriage, the means described for maintaining the verticality of theplow-body irrespective of the depth of the furrow being plowed. suchmeans consisting of an arched axle-tree or its equivalent and anadjustable sliding block or bracket fitted thereto, with gage-plate onwhich the forward end of the plow-bean bears, substantially as hereindescribed.

JAMES HOVVARD', HENRY WILLIAM GIBBS.

Witnesses:

H. K. WHITE, Jos. HODGES, Both of 6 'Breams Buildings, Chancery .Lane,

London.

